The other afternoon I was engaging in the pretty typical behavior of examining Google Maps for green areas within easy driving distance for a quick after-work hike. I zoomed in on a place called Knowland Park and not knowing anything about it, learned from the internet that it’s a small park in an Oakland neighborhood that is in danger of being partially annexed by the Oakland Zoo. This decision is currently (to the best of my limited knowledge) being contested by several groups and there is a somewhat outdated “save Knowland Park” website that speaks of the park in very glowing terms, basically making it sound like a wildlife mecca. Not only do I tend to root for the underdog, I am in general opposed to zoos because I can’t stand to see animals in cages, so I decided I had to immediately go check out this amazing place.
Knowland Park didn’t quite live up to the hype I gave it in my mind. It’s a very small park with a few wide fire trails that seems like a great place to walk your dog (which I saw several people doing) but I couldn’t shake the feeling I was basically in someone’s back yard – and not the Oakland Zoo’s, but regular, dog-walking people’s. I also saw about two birds the whole time I was there so I think the wildlife sightings were grossly exaggerated (though to be fair, most of the pictures I saw of wildlife sightings were of nocturnal animals taken by a camera trap). Basically I don’t feel the need to return to Knowland Park but I do still side with the neighborhood folks who don’t want the zoo stealing it from them.
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